Easter – Page 3

Easter Sunday

April 11, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Easter 10 Comments

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liturgical chalkboard with our Lent mottos, quotes from Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

The morning started with an Alleluia!

empty tombs,

and sacrifice beans turned alleluia beans.

The little’s had a hard time sticking to our “Jesus first” policy.

My Easter baskets were recycled from Sparkles bday last year. They were filled with up-cycled goods from the thrift store and my stash.

We took several outtakes before heading to a Solemn High Easter Mass.

The kid’s Easter clothes were all re-cycled clothing from the thrift store and my sis – Children’s Place, Nordstrom’s, Ralph Lauren, Chico’s, LOFT and other quality brands. The total cost of this year’s Easter Collection was $18!

Dad and I also wore thrift store finds. I had a brand new Liz Claiborne shirt, brand new Talbots sweater, and brand new Loft skirt – for a grand total of $11. Dad had a like-new suite and new shirt – for a grand total of $9.

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We arrived at church an hour early, time for more pics.

We even met a fellow Catholic blogger, Tridentine Wife.

Rose with some of her friends.

All the littles were wonderful for the (almost) two hour long Easter Mass.

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We headed home to prepare some side dishes, empty tomb eggs and stuffed mushrooms. Then we headed to my sister’s house to spend the rest of the day with relaxed family time.

We feasted on ham, prime rib, asparagus, salad, mushrooms, and no-potato salad.

My sis made up some healthy treats – chocolate dipped fruit and Tropical Macaroons.

Dad and Uncle hid the Easter Eggs and the fun began.

The kids cashed in at Papa & Nana’s Bank. That’s right, the kids get money instead of candy. Actually, they get paper money in their eggs. They are responsible for adding up their findings. Papa supervises the money counting. Then they get to cash it in with Nana. Nana distributes the cash. This year she plans to the kids open a new account.

Lastly, we watched a movie as a family. This was a nice treat since all TV use was offered up for Lent.

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We will continue our family time of feasting and fun for Eastertide, all for Him.

ALLELUIA!

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Easter Linky ~ Catholic Cuisine

Holy Thursday & Good Friday

April 10, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Triduum 1 Comment

Holy Thursday

commemorates Christ’s Last Supper and the initiation of the Eucharist

Altar of Repose

After the Mass, the priest takes off his chasuble and vests in a white cope. He returns to the Altar, incenses the Sacred Hosts in the ciborium, and, preceded by the Crucifer and torchbearers, carries the Ciborium to the "Altar of Repose," also called the "Holy Sepulchre," where it will remain "entombed" until the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday.

Then there follows the Stripping of the Altars, during which everything is removed as Antiphons and Psalms are recited. All the glorious symbols of Christ’s Presence are removed to give us the sense of His entering most fully into His Passion. Christ enters the Garden of Gethsemani; His arrest is imminent. Fortescue’s "Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described" tells us: "From now till Saturday no lamps in the church are lit. No bells are rung. Holy Water should be removed from all stoups and thrown into the sacrarium. A small quantity is kept for blessing the fire on Holy Saturday or for a sick call." The joyful signs of His Presence won’t return until Easter begins with the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday evening.

~Fisheaters

Good Friday

Good Friday¹ (also called "Great Friday" or "Holy Friday") is the most somber day of the entire year. A silence pervades, socializing is kept to a minimum, things are done quietly; it is a day of mourning; it is a funeral. The Temple of the Body of Christ is destroyed, capping the the penitential seasons begun on Septuagesima Sunday and becoming more intense throughout Lent. Traditional Catholics wear black, cover their mirrors, extinguish candles and any lamps burning before icons, keep amusements and distractions down, and go about the day in great solemnity. ~Fisheaters

Papi with a rose from the Altar of Repose

Lenten Recap

April 10, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Easter, Lent, Picture Recap 6 Comments

I give thanks to the Good Lord for a blessed Lenten season full of loss, mercy, family time, and service.

My family adopted two quotes from Bl. Teresa of Calcutta as our Lenten motto.

Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen.

~~~

Do ordinary things with extraordinary love.

Here is a recap of some Lenten happenings in my family.

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Shrove Tuesday 2.20

Visiting the elderly on Shrove Tuesday is a family tradition that was started some years ago with the prompting of a sister in Christ. My family shared this tradition with our parish community this year.

Park Days

kite flying and fence climbing

40 Days for Life

We prayed for the unborn babies and an end to abortion every Monday in front of the abortion clinic.

Family Start-Up 2.28

It’s official! We filed our paperwork for our start-up LLC. We have much more work ahead of us but we are all excited about the possibilities that await us as we grow this family business.

We pray that this business will lead us to financial freedom, be a source of income for our children in whatever vocation that they are called to, allow us to become providers for family as they enter full retirement, permit us to start a ministry, create jobs for families desiring to work out of their home, and fund the call that our Heavenly Father has placed on our heart – All for the greater glory of God.

Loss & Healing

Maria Louisa’s face was not seen but her love will remain forever imprinted on our hearts.

Dad and I were moved to share the reality of our five saints with the littles. For whatever reason, we did not find it fitting to do so earlier. We trust that our angels are not for us alone and we desire for all of our children to form bonds with all their siblings.

Maria Louisa has also led us to further discern something big that the Good Lord has been prompting us to. We pray to cooperate with His grace and move forward with unwavering faith – Ad Jesum per Mariam.

St. Patrick’s Day 3.17

no pictures since there were no free hands

Dad took the lead from Fr. L and helped to coordinate a parish clean-up day. The day started with a Solemn High Mass since St. Patrick’s day is a first class feast day in our diocese. Then the work began with many helping hands. The day ended with a BBQ potluck.

Hair Cut 3.20

I like my boys with long hair but couldn’t tell Papi no when he requested to “look like” dad.

Job Shadow 3.21

Rose participated in a job shadow with the HR department at the University of the Pacific (my alma-mater). She walked away with more than the average participant, the normal goodie bag with a shirt and a job offer.

Birthday Date Night 3.24

MarchBaby

Consecration Renewal 3.25

My family made our renewal on 3.25 (Feast of the Annunciation) since we knew that we would not be able to attend Mass on Monday (Feast of the Annunciation for 2012) as a family.

Passion Sunday 3.25

Potty 3.29

Dragonfly started using the potty, sporadically.

Uma 3.29

We got a new family member.

I really don’t know what I was thinking when I responded to the email.

I want to offer an 8 yr old AKC registered chocolate lab. She was spayed last week. She is very calm, does not bark much, and does not chew. She is housetrained, leash trained, fetches, swims, travels well, loves kids. She is really a great dog. Her one problem is that she does not get along with other dogs. I have had to keep her separate from my other dogs. She needs to be someone’s only dog.

This was not planned but she needed a new home and as it turns out, we needed her.

Confirmation 3.30.12

Confirmation was scheduled on my birthday this year. Dad gave me the ok to sign up to help with the reception since he knew that I desired to be serving on my birthday.

Rose and I were in charge of the cakes. We ordered them from Costco.

Rose and her confirmandi who chose St. Thecla as her patron.

Bishop Jamie Soto

Birthday Blessing 3.30

Rose and I received our birthday blessing by our spiritual director, Fr. M. A fun side note, Fr. M is the same age as Dad and I. In fact, is one day older than Dad.

Palm Sunday 4.1

Mass, Blessing of Palms, and Procession

Birthday Celebration 4.1

Rose and I celebrated with family on Sunday.

~~~

AD JESUM PER MARIAM

Empty Tomb ~ Easter Garden

March 14, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts, Easter, Lent 11 Comments

Almighty and ever living God, whose Son Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in a garden and called her to be the first witness of his Resurrection: we beseech thee to bless this humble garden wherein we have a remembrance of the mighty acts by which we have been saved; grant that all those who see it may ponder and adore the glory of the Cross and the mystery of his Resurrection and may sing with joy the victory hymn; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen ~Station at an Easter Garden

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This a wonderful Lenten/Easter project for the entire family. All ages will enjoy it. I recently used this as a craft for my Little Flowers’ study on the virtue of fortitude.

The Empty Tomb Garden provides a visual reminder of what we are preparing for during Lent, Christ’s Resurrection.

An Easter garden has three essential features: a mound with at least one cross to represent Calvary; a stone or stone structure to suggest the empty tomb; and lots of live greenery/flowers.

The children will have an opportunity to tend and nurture their gardens during Lent and beyond. They can meditate on Christ’s passion and offer an ejaculation while tending to their garden.

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

The grass will grow within days. It is wheat grass and can be eaten. It symbolizes new life.

The children will remove the stone on Easter morning and rejoice.

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I found my inspiration throughout the internet and Pinterest. House of Joyful Noise provided a great tutorial.

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Supplies:

Garden

Seed Starting Jiffy Mix ($3.80/bag – 1 bag made 14 mini gardens)
Decorative rocks ($5.59/large bag of Mountain Granite from HomeDepot – 80+mini gardens. $1/small bag of decorative rocks from the Dollar Store – 2-3 mini gardens)
Gravel (this is used as a bottom layer, not much is needed. I took my rock from my home garden)
Wheat Berry ($.77/lb – 2lbs – 40 mini gardens. I found my wheat berries at Winco in the bulk bin foods.)
Dessert Plastic Plates or shallow pots ($9.89/100 plates. I used plastic plates because they were the most economical choice for a large group. I found my plates at Smart-n-Final)
Mini Terracotta Pots ($.24/ea at WalMart)

Crosses

Popsicle sticks ($1/150 sticks at the Dollar Store)
Brown Paint
Hot Glue Gun

Misc.

Water
Bucket
Spray Bottle
Hand Shovel

Directions:

Garden

mix the seed starter with water

position tomb/terracotta pot in desired location on plate/pot

lay down the gravel on the plate, securing the pot into place.slightly build up the gravel for your hill.

top the gravel with soil

cover the entire soil with the wheat berries. press the wheat berries into the soil.

add a layer of soil on top of the wheat berries. press down firmly. (this step is optional. it will slow the growth of the wheat grass.)

clean the plate. remove the wheat berries from areas that you do not want grass to grow.

create a path from the tomb with decorative rocks. this represents how the disciples ran to the tomb on Easter morning.

add decorative rocks as desired

insert the crosses

The grass grows faster with less top soil. The garden in the left of both pictures had a thick top soil packed tightly over the wheat berries.

Crosses

Paint the popsicle sticks your desired shade of brown or create crosses from sticks and twine.

I chose popsicle sticks since I had to make over 100 crosses. I did not hand paint each stick. Instead, I created a paint wash.

add water to brown paint in a plastic pin.

run popsicle sticks through the paint wash.

bake at 350 for 5-8 min for a quick set of paint

break off the tips of the popsicle sticks for the small cross section. break the stick in thirds.

break off the tip of the popsicle stick for the vertical piece. the round part will go into the soil

hot glue the cross together

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We made larger Easter Gardens for the home.

inspired by Ann @ A Holy Experience

This garden sits on our front porch. It will serve as a reminder to all who enter that we are preparing for Christ’s resurrection.

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Empty Tomb/Easter Gardens:

Lenten Link Up ~ Catholic Icing

Baby’s First Easter

April 27, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Dragonfly, Easter, GFG 4 Comments

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